...where everybody knows your na-a-ame...
direct from newspaper.depauw.edu:
Note to Self: Changing names can lead to a minor identity crisis
By Kate Field
If you read the printout posted on my door it will say “Katherine Field,” which you will assume is my name.
And it is.
But, what you may not know is I have two more names, which makes three in total.
Last week, I left my family with “Goodbye Katie’s” and was welcomed back to DePauw with “Hey Kate’s.”
When it comes right down to it, the only thing separating the two is a simple vowel: The lower-case “i.” How appropriate for a girl who just isn’t quite sure sometimes who “I” is.
The pattern goes something like this: Katie from June to August. Drop the “i” from September to May.
But sometimes, worlds collide.
E-mail creates conflict. My greetings are easy, and my endings always say something like “xoxo, [name],” or “love you, [name],” or “see you soon, [name].” A few moments are usually wasted at the end figuring out if the proverbial “i” is appropriate or not. I forget who I am supposed to be at that moment in time.
This would be an appropriate opportunity to reject the distinction and interject the highly clichéd phrase “But I’m just me…I’m just [fill in the blank with your name].” I can’t, though, because I would have to choose which name to fill in. Because of this, I can’t even write a good old-fashioned cliché anymore.
Legal documents and official things are easy. I put what is on my birth certificate: Katherine Elizabeth Field, the quiet, reserved, professional type who knows she may only appear when I am feeling grown up, or when I pretend to be. She takes comfort in the fact that those times are few and far between.
No piece of writing that comes before signing “Katherine” is anything too personal. She sneaks by without exposing herself too much. She is the lucky one.
Katie, oh little Katie: What you will always be at home to the ones who grew up with you and the ones who knew you since you were in diapers. Katie.
Kate, the grown up... kind of: What you had to be in college because there were already two other Katie’s on the floor and you were sick of being Katie F. - as opposed to Katy D., Katie B. or Katie X., Y. or Z. You just wanted to be an individual. Kate.
Last Sunday I began my last year at DePauw and my last year as Kate Field. Studying abroad in England last semester forced me to choose how to introduce myself.
Kate or Katie? Or, I could have confused the situation a little more and been Katherine. I chose Katie. Don’t ask me why.
Katie studied in Canterbury. Katie backpacked and slept on trains through Europe for a month. Katie left for six months to do what every study abroad student is supposed to do: She left to “find herself,” but instead she now finds herself changing names and identities once again.
She’s back stateside, and the “i” has, once again, taken a leave of absence for a few months.
I have only one piece of advice I wish to pass on to the freshmen students. Note to self: When you introduce yourself as something different, it sticks. It really does.
Just because you drop an “i” doesn’t mean you drop your past, but it may cause unnecessary confusion in a time that doesn’t need to be more confusing.
So, if you happen to see me around campus, give a smile, give a wave, and remember you have three options if you choose to call me by name: Kate, Katie or Katherine.
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i can't totally relate to all of this, probably because my name provides no logical nickname. only one person has ever tried dropping the 'i,' and he was like 3 and did so for the ease of pronunciation. well, actually, tj rae went beyond just dropping the 'i' and substituted the 'c' for a 't': erta. caitlin has tried with the 'E,' but it just hasn't really gone global. i'm fine with this, though. erica is a-ok. when i was born, my dad planned on calling me 'ricky' (ricki? rickie?). i'm glad it just never worked out.